Strawberry plant named &#39;Buddy&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘Buddy’ particularly characterized by an everbearing plant with good vigor, producing attractive, glossy berries with excellent eating quality, is disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from EU Community PlantVariety Rights (CPVR) application no. 20112458, filed Oct. 17, 2011,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Fragaria×ananassa

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Buddy’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct everbearingstrawberry variety designated ‘Buddy’ and botanically known asFragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry variety was discovered as aseedling in East Malling, Kent, United Kingdom in 2006 and originatedfrom a cross made in March 2005 between the female parent ‘Diamante’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,435) and the male parent ‘DNBL205’ (unpatented).‘Buddy’ was first fruited at East Malling Reasearch (EMR) in EastMalling, Kent in 2006, and originally designated EMR428.

The present invention has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations via stolons.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Oct. 17, 2011 having CPVR application no. 20112458. ‘Buddy’ has notbeen made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than oneyear prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in East Malling, Kent, United Kingdom.

1. Everbearing plant;

2. Good vigor; and

3. Attractive, glossy berries with excellent eating quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the newvariety at various stages of development. The colors shown are as trueas can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.The photographs were taken from 2.5 month-old plants.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the whole fruit.

FIG. 2 shows overall plant habit of numerous plants.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of overall plant habit including fruit atvarious stages of development.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Buddy’. The data which define these characteristicsis based on observations taken in East Malling, Kent, United Kingdom onJul. 12, 2012. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology.Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypicaldescriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptionsdepending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic, andcultural conditions. ‘Buddy’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘Buddy’ was takenfrom 3 month-old plants. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London 5^(th)Edition. Descriptive terminology follows the Plant IdentificationTerminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harrisand Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Species.—Fragaria×ananassa.        -   Common name.13 Strawberry.        -   Denomination.—‘Buddy’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Diamante’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,435).        -   Male parent.—‘DNBL205’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Semi-erect.        -   Height.—22.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—25.6 cm.        -   Number of crowns/plant.—3.        -   Vigor.—Medium.-   Terminal leaflets:    -   -   Size.—Length: 10.7 cm Width: 10.5 cm Length/width ratio:            1.02.        -   Number of teeth/terminal leaflet.—16.        -   Shape of teeth.—Serrate to crenate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B Lower surface: RHS N138B.        -   Shape in cross section.—Concave.        -   Blistering.—Medium.        -   Glossiness.—Non-glossy.        -   Number of leaflets.—3.        -   Base shape.—Obtuse to rounded.        -   Apex descriptor.—Obtuse to rounded.        -   Pubescence density.—Light to moderate Color: RHS NN155B.        -   Margin.—Serrate to crenate.        -   Texture.—Course; heavily veined.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate Color: Upper surface: RHS 144B            Lower surface: RHS 145B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—15.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 145A.        -   Pubescence density.—Dense Color: RHS NN155B.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Pose of hairs.—Perpendicular.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Petiolule:    -   -   Length.—0.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.23 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 145A.-   Stipule:    -   -   Length.—19.6 mm.        -   Width.—1.03 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 145A.        -   Anthocyanin.—Weak.-   Stolon:    -   -   Number of daughter plants.—25.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Thickness.—0.38 cm.        -   Pubescence.—Moderate to dense.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Position relative to foliage.—Vertical and above foliage.        -   Time of flowering (50% of plants at first flower).—Various            (everbearing).        -   Corolla.—Form: Petals overlapping Length: 2.8 cm Width: 2.6            cm Depth: 1.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Shape: Globose oblate Apex: Truncate to slightly            obtuse Base: Attenuate Margin: Entire Spacing: Overlapping            Length: 1.1 cm Width: 1.1 cm Length/width ratio: 1.0 Color            (both upper and lower surfaces): RHS 155C Texture: Medium.        -   Calyx.—Diameter: 3.3 cm Diameter of calyx relative to            corolla on secondary flowers: Same size Inner calyx diameter            relative to outer on secondary flowers: Same size.        -   Sepal.—Margin: Entire Length: 1.03 cm Width: 0.46 cm Typical            and observed sepal number per flower: 12.3 Color: RHS 144A            Anthocyanin: Absent Texture: Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 15.6 cm Diameter: 0.4 cm Color: RHS N144B            Pubescence: Dense.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 28 Color: RHS 1C Filament: Length: 0.2 cm            Diameter: 0.06 cm Anthers: Color: RHS 13A Length: 1.1 cm            Diameter: 0.073 cm Pollen amount: Moderate Color: RHS 13A.        -   Pistils.—Style: Length (including stigma): 1.1 mm Diameter            (including stigma): 0.1 mm Color: RHS 12B Stigma: Color: RHS            12B.        -   Receptical color.—RHS N144B.-   Fruiting truss:    -   -   Length.—21.2 cm.        -   Attitude at first picking.—100 degrees.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Large.        -   Length.—4.17 cm.        -   Width.—3.13 cm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.3 (Longer than broad).        -   Fruit hollow center (cavity).—Slight.        -   Weight (per individual berry).—22.8 g.        -   Predominant fruit shape.—Cordate.        -   Difference in shape between primary and secondary            fruits.—First fruit is ridged and slightly wedged; second            fruit is cordate.        -   Fruit skin color.—RHS 44A.        -   Evenness of fruit color.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Fruit glossiness.—Glossy.        -   Attitude of calyx segments.—Outwards.        -   Achenes.—Insertion of achenes: Below surface Color: RHS 1A            Width of band without achenes: Absent or very narrow.        -   Firmness of flesh (when fully ripe).—Medium.        -   Firmness of skin.—Firm.        -   Internal color.—RHS 35A.        -   Color of core.—RHS 36A.        -   Sweetness.—Average Brix is 7.5.        -   Acidity.—Low to medium.        -   Type of bearing.—Everbearing.        -   Grams of fruit/plant.—843.9 g.        -   Time of ripening (50% of plants with first ripe            fruit).—Everbearing so time of fruit ripening varies.        -   Yield.—Medium.-   Disease and pest resistance:    -   -   Phytophthora cactorum.—Moderately resistant.        -   Verticillium dahliae.—Moderately resistant.        -   Podosphaera aphanis.—Susceptible.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

When ‘Buddy’ is compared to the female parent ‘Diamante’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 10,435), ‘Buddy’ has cordate shaped berries, whereas ‘Diamante’has long, rounded, conic shaped berries. In addition, ‘Buddy’ has darkerskin color and a higher level of soluble solids (Brix) than ‘Diamante’.

When ‘Buddy’ is compared to the commercial variety ‘Portola’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 20,552), ‘Buddy’ has smaller secondary and tertiary berries,berries with firmer texture and sweeter flavor and approximately 30%lower yield than ‘Portola’. Additionally, ‘Buddy’ has cordate shapedberries, whereas ‘Portola’ has symmetrical conic shaped berries

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named‘Buddy’ as described and shown herein.